Woodworking tool



Sept. 26, 1944.

R. F. FRITZ WOODWORKING TOOL Filed March 28, 1942 ROBERT F PR/TZINVENTOR ATTQRNEY Patented Sept. 26, 1944 ururso STATES PATENT OFFICE2,358,997 WoODWORKING TOOL Robert F. Fritz, Walla Walla, Wash.

Application March 28, 1942, Serial No. 436,561

1 Ciaim. (o1. 145l9) My invention relates to a woodworking tool and Q II more particularly of the type known as a plane which is a toolmanually passed over the face of material to be cut, reduced orsmoothed, and supports an inclined blade having acutting edge disposedbelow a work-engaging face for cutting the face of the material. Moreparticularly, my invention resides in the provision of a novel anduseful handle means for such a tool.

It is an object of the invention to provide an elongated handle attachedto a plane body and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom in adirection angular to the sole-face of the plane.

Another object of the invention is providing handle means attached to aplane body and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom in adirection angular to the sole-face of the plane and which is capable ofbeing elongated or extended to facilitate the use of the plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide handle means of thenature mentioned in the foregoing objects which means is so attached tothe plane body that it may be pivoted about a point to permit increasedeffective use of the plane.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of handlemeans on a plane which is so formed and adapted that it extendsrearwardly and upwardly from behind the plane blade, and which may beincorporated in a plane without materially altering the plane structure.

A still further object of the invention is the incorporation of all theforegoing objects in a s'ngle, practical and useful device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparentduring the course of the following description wherein is set forth theessential elements of a preferred and an alternate form of my invention.

Changes and alterations are contemplated to meet varying conditionswithout departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, as setforth in the subjoined claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through a planebody and its handle means,

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view taken through the tool body on anearer plane than in the showingof Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a plane body,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of my improved handle as it appearsdetached fromv the plane body,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line t5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the handle according to my inventionadapted to be pivotally mounted in a plane body,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the modified formof my invention wherein the handle of Fig. 6 is used, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the tool engaging end of the handlemember of Fig. '7.

The numeral to designates a plane body having side flanges H and i2 andthe sole piece it} through which is usually formed the slot It to permitthe downward protrusion of the blade l5 from above the sole piece. Bladeit: rests, on its back side, against suitable support means such as lugsiii, it which are usually spaced apart and mounted to the rear of slotit. A fulcrum pin ll laterally mounted in the side flanges extendsacross the channel formed by the flanges and the sole piece and abovethe slot. A clamp lever i8 is fitted between the fulcrum pin and thefront face of the blade and has a screw it or other means for forcingone or the other end away from the plane blade to clamp the samesecurely against the support means.

My handle comprises an insert member 26 having a rear shank 2i. Theinsert member is adapted to be positioned between the lugs l6 and besecured thereto by a pin 22 that passes through the hole 23 in theinsert member.

On the rear end of the shank 2i, which is sub stantially cylindrical, Imount the grip piece 2A which is also substantially cylindrical and isadapted to be manually engaged by an operator of the tool. One excellentform of attaching the grip iece to the shank is by counter-boring oneend at 25 to fit the shank and then to join the two elements by means ofa screw 26 anchored in one or the other to draw the parts together orforce them away from each other.

In the showing of Fig. 1 the shank and grip piece are drawn together andin Fig. 2 they are extended to increase the overall length of the handleas may occasionally be desired.

The insert piece is shown to be pointed vertically to fit the angleformed between the blade and the sole piece of the plane. Strain uponthe pin 22 can thus be eliminated and its only function is to hold theparts together and not against twisting which is taken by the morerugged lugs and other elements of the plane body.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of my invention is shown. The primarydifference resides in the formation of the insert member on Ordinarily,the face 30 is concentric with the hole 23 through which attaching pin22 passes. By these means the modified handle may be pivoted about theaxis of the pin 22 within the limits defined by the top edge of theblade or by the shank at 3| abutting against the sole piece. Thismovement is indicated in dashed lines in Fig. 7 wherein the fiat surface4| shown in Fig. 8 abuts the rear of plate l to stop upward movementbeyond the dashed line position of Fig. ,7.

It will be seen that my handle means extends rearwardly and upwardlyfrom the plane body from a point behind the lane blade. The direction ofthe handle means from the plane body can very well be described as beingat an angle to the face of the sole-piece. One excellent example of useof my invention may be obtained in small finishing planes that aredifficult to grasp firmly and to steer accurately in doing work to closetolerances. With my handle, such a plane is very easily engaged andguided by hand in a natural manner and the use of it is greatlyfacilitated.

In using a plane of the nature shown in the drawing it is customary andadvisable to place the forefinger upon the depression 32 that ispositioned in advance of the blade of the plane. A certain guidingcontrol is thus obtained and, as well, varying degrees of pressure maybe applied to facilitate the planing operation. Because variousoperators have different sized hands and different lengths of fingers,the handle being adjustable lengthwise to accommodate such conditheplane as a whole is more easily and comfortably grasped for accuratepainstaking work.

It is preferable that the fit of the insert member in the case of theswinging handle be friction tight with the lugs on the plane body sothat the handle will remain in any position to which it is swung by theoperator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a woodworking plane of the type having a frame provided with a pairof lugs upstanding from the inner bed thereof, said lugs being providedwith like downward and forward sloping inclined surfaces defining theangle of set of a blade resting thereon; the combination comprising: ahandle having forwardly convergent upper and lower surfaces, said lowersurface resting upon the inner bed of said frame between the upstandinglugs, said upper surface corresponding in inclination with the forwardsloping faces of said lugs, a pin passing through said lugs and saidhandle between the upper and lower inclined surfaces to retain thehandle on the frame in assembledrelation, said upper surface terminatingin an angularbreak adjacent said pin and joining a second surfaceobtusely related thereto, and a curved surface tangential with the lowerinclined surface of the handle and extending forwardly therefrom in anupward sweep having a center of tions is very useful. In addition it isfound that inclined surface resides from the axis of said pin to permitthe rocking of the handle with respect to the frame on occasion.

ROBERT F. PRITZ.

